Navigating the Game Design Journey | 26min snip from The Tim Ferriss Show

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#687: Justin Gary — Taking the Path Less Traveled, The Phenomenon of “Magic: The Gathering,” How Analytical People Can Become “Creative” People, Finding the Third Right Answer, and How to Escape Your Need for Control

The Tim Ferriss Show

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CHAPTER

Navigating the Game Design Journey

In this chapter, the speaker shares their unconventional transition from a stable job to pursuing game design, emphasizing the importance of experimentation and feedback in the creative process. They recount humorous anecdotes about freelancing, setting rates, and the challenges of entrepreneurship while highlighting strategies for engaging audiences at trade shows. Through stories of collaboration and iterative design, the speaker illustrates the complexities of launching a game and the vital role of community support in achieving success.

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Justin Gary (@Justin_Gary) is an award-winning designer, author, speaker, and entrepreneur. He is CEO of Stone Blade Entertainment and creator of the innovative and award-winning Ascension deck-building game series. Prior to designing games, Justin was the youngest ever Magic: The Gathering US National Champion. He has studied creativity and applied the principles of design to create dozens of products over his 20 years in the industry for brands that include Marvel, World of Warcraft, and the Wharton School of Business. Today, he designs, consults, and teaches creativity around the world as a digital nomad.

Justin is also the author of Think Like a Game Designer: The Step-By-Step Guide to Unlocking Your Creative Potential and host of the Think Like a Game Designer podcast.

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[07:43] An origin story steeped in Magic.

[11:23] A debatable past.

[16:38] The life of a full-time Magic competitor.

[18:24] A philosophy major.

[19:45] Monopoly lessons learned from a family of lawyers.

[23:28] Innovations that made Magic an instant success.

[26:40] Magic game balance considerations.

[30:06] Justin exits his Magic career with an altered mindset.

[36:43] Too cool for law school.

[41:34] Risk is relative.

[43:39] From playing games to designing games.

[46:10] A Whack on the Side of the Head.